whistling in the dark

[Dennis R. Preston]

Yes, for me "whistling in the dark: and "pissing up a knotty rope"
are synonyms.

dInIs

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>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Alison Murie <sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM>
>Subject:      whistling in the dark
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>
>Tom Edsel, on  NPR's "On Point"this morning used the phrase "whistling in
>the dark" in a context that strongly suggested that he meant something like
>"building castles in the air" rather than warding off fear of the dark by
>faking insouciance.  Has the meaning of this old expression morphed into a
>new sort of Panglossianism?
>AM
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--
It should be the chief aim of a university professor to exhibit
himself [sic] in his own true character - that is, as an ignorant man
thinking, actively utilizing his small share of knowledge. Alfred
North Whitehead

Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
Morrill Hall 15-C
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1036 USA
Office: (517) 353-4736
Fax: (517) 353-3755

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